The Eagle Nebula got its name from the birdlike form that tops this massive pillar of gas and dust. The nebula is located 7,000 light-years away. But there is more to this nebula, then the overall picture.

Inside the Eagle nebula tall pillars and round globules of dark dust and cold molecular gas remain where stars are still forming.

This next image is from the top part of the nebula were a giant star is heating the gases and creating a shock wave that is creating new born stars.